Kidlit Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 My dd (5/04) is enjoying K at home this year, and she is doing very well. Handwriting, the subject she enjoyed the least at the beginning, has become less of a struggle. Although I feel ill equipped to really determine how well she's doing at it, she is definitely making progress. She is almost finished with the kindergarten book from Handwriting Without Tears. My question is this: should I proceed to the next book since we've basically only covered how to make the letters and numbers, or should I just come up with my own practices for her and start the next book when she's in first grade? I prefer to have the exercises already prepared (i.e. in a consumable workbook), especially when we're in the formative stages, but I am willing to make my own sheets if the collective wisdom here thinks it best. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 My dd5 went from K to 1st in HWT just fine. HWT1 just reviews making all the letters again, only a little bit smaller, and also includes lists of words. It's easy. I figured when we finished the HWT1 book I would start her on my own copy work, but it turns out she is interested in learning cursive now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidlit Posted December 2, 2009 Author Share Posted December 2, 2009 Thanks, hmsmith! Anyone else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Go ahead and get the next book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WiseOwlKnits Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 You'll have no problems at all doing the 1st grade book with her. It starts almost back at the beginning with reviewing letters, just moves a little faster (because it's supposed to be review) than the K book. The lines get a little smaller and they write words, but they're not words that she wouldn't be capable of: boy, cap, cat, man, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooketopia Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 I'm so happy for anyone who has a K-er that likes handwriting. It is definitely my daughter's least favorite thing to do. I'd move to the next book if it were me. Yay for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melenie Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Do you have the next book to see what comes next? I ask this because DD (same age as yours) finished the K book and I bought the 1st grade book to start. When I received it and looked through it, I was sure that she was not ready for it. The workbooks are cheap so I ended up buying another K book and she is happy doing it again. The jump is not a vast one from the K book to 1st, but I have a very reluctant writer. If possible go ahead buy the book and then decide. GL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 If you do decide you want to provide extra practice, apart from HWT, you can go to Donna Young's website. It has a lot of handwriting pages to choose from, from printing readiness to cursive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidlit Posted December 2, 2009 Author Share Posted December 2, 2009 Thanks for all the responses and advice. I think I will go ahead and purchase the next book, although I do like the idea of possibly repeating the K book. I don't think we have had enough practice, really. However, if the 1st grade book does review a lot, we'll probably be fine. I think my problem is that I can't remember how to make the letters properly myself. :tongue_smilie: I need more practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairProspects Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Are there any programs that use the HWOT font to create more practice? I know StartWrite does not, but are there other workbooks or something? I have been wondering this as well, because I feel like ds could use more practice than the copying in the HWOT workbooks, but have had a hard time finding anything else using the same font & two line style, and switching to anything else at this point would throughly confuse him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidlit Posted December 2, 2009 Author Share Posted December 2, 2009 Actually, abcteach.com does. I had a trial membership to write up a review for my blog, but I haven't renewed. It was a little unwieldy to use, and the fonts were a little "mechanical" looking (i.e. not smooth, etc.), but it might be worth it if you really want to make your own practice sheets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurelia Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 You could just get some of the gray block paper if you think she needs more practice before moving on to the next book, but I think she would probably be fine with the first grade level. Ariel finished the HWT K book before she turned 5, so I downloaded a copywork book from Currclick (Beatrix Potter for Beginners) before starting to use a first grade workbook in August. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama2two Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 I am not sure how much handwriting practice you want, but with my K'er who is also done with the book we just incorporate handwriting into other things. He does it with his ETC books, lapbooks, a journal tracking birds at our feeder, etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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